Ragnarok #12

   Writer and artist Walt Simonson seems to be having a blast crafting the adventures of Thor again - but this is a Thunder God who's less Lee and Kirby and more Ancient Myth.

   In this series we're seeing what happened to the world long after the events of Ragnarok - the Twilight of the Gods.

   Thor has somehow survived - barely, in near-skeletal form - and he's trying to find a way to stop Agantyr, the Lord of the Dead. That's a task that has become even more difficult since Thor doesn't have the strength to stand and his ally inside Agantyr's stronghold has just been killed.

   But Thor also has allies (albeit tiny, mostly weak ones) -  but how can they overcome a much more powerful foe?

   The answer is a lot of fun, and Simonson's artwork is just stunning, leaping off the pages with sparks of energy and power.

   No mistake, this is a very different version of Thor - but to fans of the original Norse myths, it's a lot of fun!

Grade: A

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Ragnarok #9

   Writer / artist Walt Simonson had a historic run on Marvel's Thor, and the series Ragnarok (which seems to be flying under the radar for many) brings the two back together again - sort of.

   This version of that Norse god is not based on Marvel's Lee / Kirby creation - instead, it's based on the original myths (more or less).

   But this is Thor after Ragnarok (the final battle that destroys - well, everything), which he and the universe have survived - barely.

   Each issue has focused on massive battles, focusing on different aspects of the Norse myths, as Thor fights old enemies to survive - and to honor his fallen friends and family.

   This issue is a bit out of the ordinary, as (one brief bit of violence aside), it focuses on an unusual power Thor possesses - one that enables him to correct a recent wrong and craft an unusual ally.

   I love this series - though I should add that it's almost nothing like Simonson's acclaimed Thor run. Here's he's moving in different directions, but each page crackles with power and humor and the heft of myth.

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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Ragnarok #7

   This definitely isn't your Dad's Thor.

   It's always great to see Walt Simonson creating new comics adventures, and even better to see him return to the tales of a certain Thunder God - but Ragnarok stars a very different Thor.

   This is the story of what happens after the universe-shattering events of the Twilight of the Gods. Somehow Thor survives (though he doesn't look it) - but this is the mythological Thor, not the Marvel version.

   So he's not particularly warm and fuzzy (in fact, he's often grim and rather merciless), and he's on a mission of vengeance against the forces that destroyed Asgard - and his family and friends.

   As you'd expect from Simonson, the issue just crackles with energy, with intense battle sequences and a shocking turn of events - and it's just the warm-up (so to speak) before the battle royale that's on tap for next issue.

   Simonson's enthusiasm for this series is infective, and he seems to be enjoying the opportunity to dig deep into Norse Mythology.

    I love this series!

Grade: A

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Ragnarok #5 (of 6)

   For those of us who were fans of writer / artist Walt Simonson's work the Marvel's The Mighty Thor, this series has been a blast from the past.

   Sorta.

   Set long after the fall of the Norse Gods in the final battle known as Ragnarok, the series shows the revival of the powerful creature known as the Stone God, who seems... familiar.

   The skeletal god wields a familiar-looking weapon - a powerful hammer.

    Despite their attempts at being coy, a time or two they've slipped up and revealed his real name  - Thor.

   The former Thunder God has embarked on a quest to discover what happened to Asgard and his friends and family.

   To that end, his quest leads him to Mirmir's Well, where Odin gained wisdom at the cost of an eye.

   Is the well still there, and if so, what price will SG have to pay to get answers?

   This has been a terrific series, with amazing, powerful, Earth-shattering art by Simonson, who seems to be having a lot of fun back in the old playground (or at least a version of it).

   It's a great series - I hate to see it end!

Grade: A

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